Insecticidal and synergistic products



Patented Sept. 5, 1950 TED T TE s1 INSECTICIDAL AND SYNERGISTIO PRODUCTS H I Oscar F. Hedenburg, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor, by I mesne assignments, to Rex Research Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware No' Drawing. Application April 22, 1949,

' 1 Serial No. 89,160

15 Claims. (Cl. 167-24) lyst to depolymerize theparaformaldehyde and Cfiz o cHPon=oH= 0 Ofis aid in the reaction of formaldehyde with the alcohol and safrole. The alcohols are the alkoxyethyl alcohols (ROCH2CH2OH) and alkoxyethoxyethyl alcohols where R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

The compoundsmay be made by reacting all three of the constituents together, or by first reacting either the alcohol, or safrole, with paraformaldehyde and then adding the third constituent. The alcohol and safrole may also be reacted separately with paraformaldehyde and then these products reacted together with the catalyst present.

As catalysts, I have used toluenesulfonic acid, benzene sulfonic acid or naphthalene sulfonic acid. Other strong non-volatile acids, such as sulfuric acid, sodium acid sulfate, trichloroacetic acid and monoethylphosphoric acid, may also be used.

The reaction may be performed in benzene solution, or the constituents may be heated together, with a catalyst in the former case the benzene solution may be boiled to remove water formed in the reaction and concentrated by distilling off the benzene, Or the benzene solution may be washed to remove acid before recovering the product; "The benzene solution may also be added to absorbent carriers, such as pyrophyllite, and the benzene evaporated. I

When the constituents are heated together the product may be used directly by incorporating in carriers with or withoutneutralizing' the acid catalyst remaining as may be found desirable. The product may be dissolved in benzene or other suitable solvent and washed free from acid 2 for some uses and the duced pressure."

Water is formed in the reaction which may be removed by known methods or allowed to remain when the product is combined with absorbent carriers.

The reaction involves the use of one mol of alcohol, one mol of safrole and two mols of formaldehyde, to produce the new compounds as shown graphically by the following equation:

oneto two.

In the preparations below there was usually used one half-mol each of the alcohol and safrole and one mol of formaldehyde or an equivalent quantity of paraformaldehyde (called a onehalf mol batch) and was carried out in a 500 cc. 3-neck flask with a thermometer in a cork in one small neck, a cork in the other small neck and a vertical condenser attached to the central neck. The batch was stirred while the temperature was rising and until most of the paraformaldehyde was dissolved, solution of the paraformaldehyde taking place quite rapidlyabout 10 minutes in some examples. The temperature was then kept as uniform as possible during the test.

Some wash waters were tested for formaldehyde and showed that in some cases 5 to 10 per cent of the paraformaldehyde used was unreacted, which may be partly accounted for because the safrole used was probably to pure.

The water that was formed collected partly as a separate layer, or remained mostly dissolved in the product from some alcohols. In the case of products from butoxyethyl alcohol and butoxyethoxyethyl alcohol, water collected as a pool at the bottom and could be drawn off in large scale operation.

The insecticidal and synergistic tests given below for each example were made with houseflies in comparison with the O. T. I. which means the Oflicial Test Insecticide mg. of pyrethrins dissolved in 100 m1. of petroleum distillate). The comparison is given as the O. T. I. difference between the 24-hour kill forthe sampleand the 24-ho'urkill for the O. T. I. This 0- benzene removed at remenace '1". I. difference has a plus value when the 24-hour kill for the sample is greater.

The tests were made with samples of petroleum distillate solutions containing 300 mg. of the product and 30 mg. of pyrethrins per 100 cc. unless otherwise indicated.

Examples 1 to 3 This product was made by heating together 38 g. of methoxyethyl alcohol, 81 g. of safrole, 31 g. of paraformaldehyde and 3 g. of toluenesulfonic acid (TSA).

Examples 1 and 2.--The product was dissolved in benzene and washed free from acid. The benzene solution was clarified, filtered, and distilled at reduced pressure to remove benzene by heating in a water bath at 50 C. The product was heated to constant weight.

Example 3.The methoxyethyl alcohol, paraformaldehyde and toluenesulfonic acid were heated together to 85 C. in about 10 minutes, at

which time the paraformaldehyde was nearly all dissolved. The safrole was added with stirring during about 50 minutes. After the mixture was heated for 22 hours the flask was opened and water was evaporated during about one hour. The acid in the product was not neutralized, but

. it-may be neutralized for some uses.

A petroleum distillate solution containing 300 mg. of the product per 100 cc. gave 41% knockdown in 10 minutes and 10% kill in 24 hours. A petroleum distillate containing mg. of pyrethrins per 100 cc. gave 66% knockdown in 10 minutes and 14% kill in 24 hours.

Examples 4 to 6 This product was made by heating together g. of ethoxyethyl alcohol, 81 g. of safrole, 31

g. of paraformaldehyde and 3 g. of toluenesulionic acid (TSA).

Example 4 and 5.The product was dissolved in benzene and washed free from acid. The benzene solution was clarified, filtered and distilled at reduced pressure to remove benzene by heating in a water bath at 50 C. The product was heated to constant weight.

Example 6.--The ethoxyethyl alcohol, paraformaldehyde and toluenesulfonlc acid were heated together to C. in about 10 minutes, at which time the paraformaldehyde was nearly all dissolved. The safrole was added with stirring during about one hour. After the mixture was heated for 22 hours the flask was opened and the water was evaporated during about one hour. The acid in the product was not neutralized, but it may be neutralized for some uses.

A petroleum distillate solution containing 300 mg. of the product per 100 cc. gave 45% knockdown in 10 minutes and 17% kill in 24 hours. A petroleum distillate solution containing 30 mg. of pyrethrins per 100 cc. gave 66% knockdown in 10 minutes and 14% kill in 24 hours.

Examples 7 to 12, inclusive This product was made by heating together 59 g. of n-butoxyethyl alcohol, 81 g. of safrole, 30 or 31 g. 0! paraformaldehyde. and 1 to 4 g. oi. toluenesulfonic acid (TSA) Temper- Example Catalyst Tune 8mm Yield Hour: 0. 0mm g. 62 85 153 g. 40 82-86 151 9 g. 63 83-88 153 g. l 46 81-88 156 ll 3 g. TSA 7 85 1B0 12 3 g. TS About 24 86 155 Knock- Kill in 24 '1. I Example g g f Hrs. Diilerence Percent Percent Examples 7, 8 and 9.There was added 100 cc. of benzene at the start. The water formed was boiled out by the benzene into a receiver. The benzene solution was cooled, washed free from acid, clarified, filtered and distilled at reduced pressure to remove benzene. The product was heated to constant weight.

Example 10.There was added 25 cc. of benzene at the start. At end of heating the product was cooled and the benzene solution was washed free from acid and handled further as above.

Example 11.-The ingredients were heated together. Then the product was dissolved in benzene, washed free from acid and handled further as above.

Example 12.-The alcohol, paraformaldehyde and acid were heated to 85 C. The safrole was added with stirring during about one hour. The mixture was heated for 22 hours at 85 C. The flask was then opened and water was evaporated during about 1% hours. The acid in the product was not neutralized, but it may be neutralized for some uses. All products were brown, mobile oils soluble in petroleum distillate.

A petroleum distillate solution containing 300 mg. of product per 100 cc. gave 46% knockdown in 10 minutes and 13% kill in 24 hours. A petroleum distillate solution containing 30 mg. of pyrethrins per 100 cc. gave 66% knockdown in 10 minutes and 14% kill in 24 hours.

6 m minutes and 16% kill in 24 hours.

Examples 13 to This product was made by heating together 60 g. methoxyethoxyethyl alcohol, 81 g. sai'role,

31 g. paraformaldehyde and 3 g. of toluenesuli'onic acid (TSA) Example Catalyst Time 23 38 Yield Hours C. Grams 13 3g. T$A 7% 86 148 14 do a; s5 147 15, In 22 85 156 Kill in 0.121. Example ma Hrs. Diilerence Pa cent Per cent 6 heating 22% hours the flask was opened and water was evaporated during 1% hours. The acid in the product was not neutralized, but it may be .neutralized for some uses.

A petroleum distillate solution containing 300 mg. of productper 100 cc. gave 36% knockdown in 10 minutes and 14% kill in 24 hours. A

petroleum distillate solution containing mg. of pyrethrins per 100 cc. gave 66%-knockdown in 10 minutes and 14% kill in 24 hours.

Examples 19 to 27 The following tests were made by heating together 81 g. of butoxyethoxyethyl alcohol, 81' g.

Examples 13 and 14.The ingredients were .heated together at the temperature andfor the time stated. The product was cooled, dissolved in benzene, washed free from acid, clarified,

filtered and distilled at reduced pressure to reand acid were heated to 85 C. and the safrole was added with stirring during about one hour. After heating about 22 hours the flask was opened and water was evaporated during 1% hours. The acid in the'product was not neutralized, but it may be neutralized for some uses.

A petroleum distillate solution containing 300 mg. of product per 100 cc. gave 43% knockdown A petroleum distillate solution containing 30 mg. 01. pyrethrins per 100 cc. gave 66% knockdown in 10 minutes and 14% kill in 24 hours.

Examples. 16 to 18 This product was made by heating together 67 g. of ethoxyethoxyethyl alcohol, 81 g. of safrole,

31 g. of paraformaldehyde and 3 g. of toluenesulfonic acid (TSA).

Example Catalyst Time g i ig" Yield Hours C. Grams 16.; 3 g. TSA 7 85 163 17 24 85 156. 5 l 8 do 22% 85 167 Knock- Kill in 24 O. T I Exam 1e downm 10 p minutes Hrs. Difierence Per cent Per cent benzene, and heated further to constant weight at 50 C. In Example 17 there was used 34 g. paraformaldehyde.

Example 18.The alcohol, .paraformaldehyde and acid were heated to 85 C. and the safrole was added with stirring during about one hour. After added with stirring during about one hour.

of safrole, 31 g. of paraformaldehyde and the stated amount of arylsulfonic acid.

' L Temper- Example Catalyst Time 8mm Yield 1 Hours C' Grams. 19 3 g. 'ISA. 24 00 177 an 1 g. TSA- 24 181 24 85 183 8 85 181.5

14 85 183 24 85 185 46. 5 85-89 .179 24 85 176. 5 4 g. NSA 24 85 175. 5

Knock- Kill in 24 0. T. I. Example do wurli me S1o Hm Dmerence Per cent Per cent 19-.-- 91 47 +1 20 94 60 +20 94 66 +16 91 70 +28 94 81 +30 72 +36 97 87 +36 98 87 +49 99 76 +22 TSA is toluenesulfonie acid.

BSA is benzenesulfonic acid.

N SA is naphthalene bote-sulfonic acid.

Example 25.A petroleum distillate solution containing 300 mg. of the product and 60mg. of pyrethrins per 100 cc. gave 98% knockdown in 10 minutes and 91 kill in 24 hours; The O. T. I.

difference was +53. A petroleum distillate soluti on containing 60 mg. .pyrethrins per 100 cc. gives about23% kill in 24'hours. See below for test with solution of 300 mg; of product.

Example 19.--When the test was stopped heating there was a small amount of undissolved paraformaldehyde on the flask and in the liquid product. The product was dissolved in benzene and the benzene solution was decanted from the solid which on being dried weighed 6 g. The benzene solution was washed free from'acid, clarified, flitered and distilled at reduced pressure to remove benzene. The product was heated to constant weight. The results at 60 C. were not so good as at a higher temperature.

Examples 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26 and 27.-Thel products were dissolved in benzene and washed free from acid. The benzene solution was clarified, filtered and distilled at reduced pressure to remove benzene. The product was heated to constant weight.

Example 24.--The butoxyethoxyethyl alcohol, paraformaldehyde and toluenesulfonic acid were heated together'to 85 C. and the safrole was The reaction mixture was heated for 22 hours. Then the flask was opened to evaporate water durina ,anotherhour. The acid in the product was not benzene and washed free from acid.

neutralisedbutitmaybeneutraliaedforsome uses.

A petroleum distillate solution containing 300 mg. of product per 100 cc. gave 35% knockdownin minutes and kill in 24 hours. A petroleum distillate solution containing mg. of pyrethrins per 100 cc. gave 66% knockdown in 10 minutes and 14% kill in 24 hours.

'- washed free from acid. Thebenaeneaolution lnthereactionmixturesofExamplesltom the several alcohols and paraformaldehyde possihly react to yield temporarily hemiacetals and formals. In order to determine whether the formals would yidd products that were insecticides, the following testswere made from the formals of two of the alcohols used above.

Examples es and 29 This product was made by heating together 41 g. of dimethoxyethyl formal, 23.5 a. of paraiormaldehyde (which are equivalent to 38 g. of methoxyethyl alcohol and 31 s. of paraformaldehyde),,81 g. of safrole and 3 a. of toluenesulfonic acid (TSA). There was added 2 g. of water to start the hydrolysis of the formal to Example 28.-The product was dissolved in The benaene solution was clarified, filtered, and distilled at reduced pressure in a water bath at C. The product was heated to constant weight.

Emznple Z9.-The product was dissolved in benzene (150 cc.)' and boiled to distill water into a receiver during about 50 minutes. The

benzene solution was washed free from acid and further handled as in Example 28.

These products are considered to be like those in Examples 1 to 3.

Example 30 This product was made by heating together 62 g. of dibutoxy ethyl formal, 23.5 g. of paraformaldehyde (which are equivalent to 59 g. of butoxyethyl alcohol and 31 g. of paraformalde-' hyde) 81 g. of sairole and 4 g, of toluenesuli'onic acid (TSA). There was added 4.5 8. 320.

Example Catalyst Time 332" Hours 4 g. TSA

Knockdown in 10 Kill in 24 0. T. I. minutes Per cent Per cent 30 W Thcproductwasdissolvedinbenseuaaud washandled iurtherasinErampleils.

This product was considered to'be like those lnllxamples'ltolil.

When sairole and parafe are heated together with toluenesulfonic acid there is formed a product which was made by heating together 162 g, of safrole, 4'! 8. of paraformaldehyde and 3 z. of toluenesulionic acid. As the temperature was raised to 60' 0., the reaction gave rapid evolution of heat. In about an hour most of the paraiormaldehyde had dissolved. Then the mixture was heated at -86 O. for 24 hours. Yield 191 g. A petroleum distillate solution containing300 mg, of product and30 mg. of pyrethrins save 83% knockdown in 10 minutes and 60% kill in 24hours. The O. T. I. diiference was +22.

Example 31 and 32 This product was made by heating together 94.5 or 95.5 g. of the reaction product derived from safrole andparaformaldehyde above, 41 g. dimethoxyethyl formal, 3 g. of toluenesulfonic acid and 9 a. of water.

Example Catalyst Temper- Time hm Example Examples 31 and 3Z.Benzene (150 cc.) was added to the product and water was boiled out. The benzene solution was washed free from acid and handled further as in Example 28. This product was considered to be like Examples 1 to 3.

Examples 33 and 34 This product was made by heating together about g. of the reaction product derived from safrole and paraformaldehyde above, 84 g. of dibutoxyethoxyethyl formal, 4 3. of toluenesulfonic acid and 9 g. of water. In the following table the first test for each example was made on the mixture after heating and the second test was made before heating the same percentage composition.

Example Time 3 32 Catalyst Yield Gram Hours C.

Kill in 24 Hrs.

Per cent After the period of heating the flask was opened to evaporate water.

There is observed to be an important increase in reacting the above ingredients. The dibutoxyethoxyethyl formal has little, if any, insecticidal value and the value of the reaction product made from safrole and paraformaldchyde is only fair (see above). This product is considered to be like Examples 19 to 27.

A concentrate was prepared from the product oi Example 22, pyrethrin extract and petroleum distillate in such proportions that the 10 concentrate contained by weight of each 40% of the product of Example 22, 5% of pyrethrins and 55% of mineral hydrocarbons.

This concentrate was mixed at the rate of 5% 20 with 15% mineral hydrocarbons and 80% of a mixture of 50% each of Freon 11 and Freon 12. The composition was packaged in a container with a suitable release valve under about 38 lbs. pressure.-. This package is commonly called an aerosol bomb. The composition was tested in a 6 ft. cube chamber at the rate of 1.2 a. per test. The average of three tests gave l0 7. The new organic chemical product having the structural formula:

0 oHrcH=on-cm-o-om-o-cm-cm-o-n in which R is an alkyl radical having from one to four carbon atoms.

8. A new organic chemical product having the structural formula:

-CHrCH=CH-C H O-CHI-O-CH I-OHT'd-C HaC HIGHCHI 9. A new organic chemical product having the structural formula:

in which R is an alkyl radical having from one to four carbon atoms.

10. A new organic chemical product having the structural formula:

' bon atoms and n is an integer from one to two,

and substantially two mols of formaldehyde, the reaction mixture containing as a catalyst at least one strong, non-volatile acid.

2. Method as in claim 1, in which n is one. 3. Method as in claim 1, in which n is one and R is the n-butyl radical.

4. Method as in claim 1, in which n is two. 9

5. Method as in claim 1, in which n is two and R is the n-butyl radical.

6. The new organic chemical product having the structural formula:

one to two.

The percentage of paralyzed flies killed 11. An insecticidal composition comprising pyrethrins and as a synergist therefor the product of claim 6.

12. An insecticidal composition comprising.

pyrethrins and as a synergist therefor the product of claim '1.

13. An insecticidal composition comprising pyrethrins and as a synergist therefor the product of claim 8. A

14. An insecticidal composition comprising pyrethrins and as a synergist therefor the product of claim 9.

15. An insecticidal composition comprising pyrethrins and as a synergist therefor the product of claim 10.

OSCAR F. HEDENBURB.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS 86 Number Name Date 0 2,430,116 Holmes et al. Nov. 4, 1947 ch. 2,433,491 Synerholm Dec. so, 194': 0 CHi-CH=CH-CHrO-CHt-O-(-CHi-CHrO-)r-R 2,442,555 Synerholm June 1, 1948 2,456,318 Prili Dec. 14, 1948 in which R is an alkyl radical havin from one Q 2,457,957 Wachs Jan. 4, 1949 to four carbon atoms and n is an integer from 2,485,600 Hedenburg Oct. 25, 1949 2,485,681 7 Wachs Oct. 25, 1949 

6. THE NEW ORGANIC CHEMICAL PRODUCT HAVING THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA: IN WHICH R IS AN ALKYL RADICAL HAVING FROM ONE TO FOUR CARBON ATOMS AND N IS AN INTERGER FROM ONE TO TWO. 